Upgraded Henderson County tourism website informs vacationers

Published: Friday, May 24, 2013 at 6:35 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 24, 2013 at 6:35 a.m.

The Henderson County Tourism Development Authority is ramping up for a busy tourist season, and has added a tool to its website that allows visitors to check vacancies at local accommodations.

Travelers can visit www.historichendersonville.org and click on the “Check out room vacancies” link to view accommodation listings, including information such as vacancies, business name, website, phone number, type of lodging and the date the information was last updated.

“We try to keep it as current and updated as possible,” said Karen Baker, assistant director for the TDA.

Business owners can register with TDA and input the pertinent information. Business owners are responsible for keeping their information up to date. “This way all innkeepers, TDA staff and the public can use it,” Baker said.

The site will be useful for visitors, as AAA Carolinas just released a report showing that more people will be traveling this holiday weekend as a result of lower gas prices and an improving economy.

An estimated 897,300 North Carolina motorists — a 1.5 percent increase over last year — are expected to hit the road as the summer travel season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend, according to a AAA Carolinas news release.

Gas prices are down 37 cents after peaking Feb. 22 and are currently $3.43 per gallon. That price is 12 cents per gallon less than this time a year ago.

“Lower gas prices and a slowly improving economy means more people will travel this holiday weekend to spend time with family and friends,” David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas, said in the release. “This weekend's favorable weather forecast will also encourage many last-minute travelers to get away for Memorial Day,” he added.

Baker expects a heavy crowd this weekend in Henderson County, thanks to events such as Garden Jubilee on Main Street in Hendersonville. The lawn and garden show will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday between Sixth Avenue and Caswell Street.

Baker said the TDA's headquarters at the visitors center has fielded several calls about the event.

“Memorial Day weekend is looking very bright,” she added. “Each year, the Garden Jubilee gets bigger.”

The event is maxed out at 200 vendors, with an additional 30 to 40 on the waiting list.

The tourist season is just beginning and although it is difficult to predict this year's success, Baker is optimistic.

“All indicators look good,” she said.

Not only are calls coming into the visitors center, but the TDA also is advertising in publications including “Our State” and “Southern Living” as well as in programs at Atlanta professional sports games.

Mountain Inn & Suites on Upward Road is crawling out of the winter lull and is seeing business pick up, said Chris Smith, general manager.

“We've been slammed,” Smith said a few days before the holiday weekend. “May to the end of the summer is setting up for the best summer we've had in the last few years.”

As Henderson County welcomes travelers, many locals will be hitting the highways. About 1,017,200 North Carolinians are expected to travel more than 50 miles from home. Air travel, however, is expected to drop about 5 percent this weekend, AAA Carolinas said in the release.

The N.C. Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to be safe on the road.

Officers will increase patrols, knowing that speed is the leading cause of all traffic collisions and fatalities in the state.

“Memorial Day is the beginning of a busy travel season across the state,” Col. Bill Grey, State Highway Patrol commander, said in a news release. “We are asking all motorists to buckle up and be extremely careful when traveling to their various destinations. I have instructed our troopers to aggressively crack down on motorists who are speeding, driving recklessly and driving while impaired.”

<p>The Henderson County Tourism Development Authority is ramping up for a busy tourist season, and has added a tool to its website that allows visitors to check vacancies at local accommodations.</p><p>Travelers can visit www.historichendersonville.org and click on the “Check out room vacancies” link to view accommodation listings, including information such as vacancies, business name, website, phone number, type of lodging and the date the information was last updated.</p><p>“We try to keep it as current and updated as possible,” said Karen Baker, assistant director for the TDA.</p><p>Business owners can register with TDA and input the pertinent information. Business owners are responsible for keeping their information up to date. “This way all innkeepers, TDA staff and the public can use it,” Baker said.</p><p>The site will be useful for visitors, as AAA Carolinas just released a report showing that more people will be traveling this holiday weekend as a result of lower gas prices and an improving economy.</p><p>An estimated 897,300 North Carolina motorists — a 1.5 percent increase over last year — are expected to hit the road as the summer travel season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend, according to a AAA Carolinas news release.</p><p>Gas prices are down 37 cents after peaking Feb. 22 and are currently $3.43 per gallon. That price is 12 cents per gallon less than this time a year ago. </p><p>“Lower gas prices and a slowly improving economy means more people will travel this holiday weekend to spend time with family and friends,” David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas, said in the release. “This weekend's favorable weather forecast will also encourage many last-minute travelers to get away for Memorial Day,” he added. </p><p>Baker expects a heavy crowd this weekend in Henderson County, thanks to events such as Garden Jubilee on Main Street in Hendersonville. The lawn and garden show will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday between Sixth Avenue and Caswell Street. </p><p>Baker said the TDA's headquarters at the visitors center has fielded several calls about the event. </p><p>“Memorial Day weekend is looking very bright,” she added. “Each year, the Garden Jubilee gets bigger.” </p><p>The event is maxed out at 200 vendors, with an additional 30 to 40 on the waiting list. </p><p>The tourist season is just beginning and although it is difficult to predict this year's success, Baker is optimistic. </p><p>“All indicators look good,” she said. </p><p>Not only are calls coming into the visitors center, but the TDA also is advertising in publications including “Our State” and “Southern Living” as well as in programs at Atlanta professional sports games. </p><p>Mountain Inn & Suites on Upward Road is crawling out of the winter lull and is seeing business pick up, said Chris Smith, general manager. </p><p>“We've been slammed,” Smith said a few days before the holiday weekend. “May to the end of the summer is setting up for the best summer we've had in the last few years.” </p><p>As Henderson County welcomes travelers, many locals will be hitting the highways. About 1,017,200 North Carolinians are expected to travel more than 50 miles from home. Air travel, however, is expected to drop about 5 percent this weekend, AAA Carolinas said in the release. </p><p>The N.C. Highway Patrol is reminding motorists to be safe on the road. </p><p>Officers will increase patrols, knowing that speed is the leading cause of all traffic collisions and fatalities in the state. </p><p>“Memorial Day is the beginning of a busy travel season across the state,” Col. Bill Grey, State Highway Patrol commander, said in a news release. “We are asking all motorists to buckle up and be extremely careful when traveling to their various destinations. I have instructed our troopers to aggressively crack down on motorists who are speeding, driving recklessly and driving while impaired.”</p>